Pletcher’s Jackson Hole Returns in Fountain of Youth, Nearly Heads Straight to Florida Derby

[Wandering Eyes]

A pair of runners trained by Todd Pletcher are being targeted for Gulfstream Park's marquee races for 3-year-olds this winter. WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc. and First Go Racing LLC's undefeated Jackson Hole (Nyquist) is on track for a start in the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Feb. 28, while Centennial Farms' Nearly (Not This Time) will make his next start in the GI Curlin Florida Derby on Mar. 28.

“He's doing very well. He's scheduled to breeze [Friday], and we're pointing for the Fountain of Youth,” Pletcher said of the former.

Jackson Hole, a $1.3 million purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September sale, debuted at Gulfstream Dec. 13 with a rallying one-length victory in a seven-furlong maiden special weight. The colt became a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard when taking his two-turn debut by 5 1/2 lengths at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17 in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance.

“I thought he ran very well. He made a comfortable lead and it seemed like he had plenty left at the end,” Pletcher said. “It was a good performance in his second start for shipping out of town and making his first start around two turns.”

According to Pletcher, the timing is still right for Holy Bull hero Nearly to race next in the $1-million Florida Derby.

“We felt like we'd give him a little time. He had four races fairly close together. We thought we'd give him the chance to get a little breather,” Pletcher said. “We like the spacing of that.”

Nearly, who was a disappointing sixth in his Oct. 26 debut at Aqueduct, has won three races in a row at Gulfstream. The colt scored by 9 1/4 lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight Nov. 22 and came right back to draw off to a five-length victory in a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance Jan. 2.

Negotiating two turns for the first time proved to be no problem for Nearly, who pressed the pace before drawing off to a 5 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull Jan. 31.

“Hopefully, if he were to run well in the Florida Derby, it would be five weeks back to the [Kentucky] Derby,” Pletcher said.

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